Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-06-09

wonld fill the pages of history, one
meager line tells how near he came to
the kingdom, and how fatally he fesIsd.
And Ierah died in Haran.'' But the
eon, bold where the father was weak,
took up the leadership of The family,
hearing the voice OF God. go INTO
land which will show thee" and make
for himself an endless nare When
Terah the timid was at the head oil the
house, the record stands, nThey vent
forth 10 60 into the land of Cannan, and
they came unto Haran and dwelt there.
But OF Abraham il is said, nThey went
forth to go into the land OF Oannan, and
into the land OF Oannan they came. And
from that day to this, more of strength
as we'll 90 mystery, mora OF culture ns
we'll as courage, gathers around the name
and the people OF Abram than attaches
to any other nation, not excepting that
!! which We fondly call the full Hover or
the latest civilization. And the end is
not vet, for. the fullness Of all the nations
is delayed, until THE nation has come to
| its own.
II was this likeness TO God that made
Samuel the child, greater than the
trained prophet Eli in virtue Of which
he annointed Sanl TO be king, ard de-
posed him; found the red haired David
among the sheep, and set HIM over the
4 thousands. of Israel. And becanee Ruth
the Moahitsss, daughter OF an accursed
nation, had faith and courage to say that
abe would follow one of the chosen race.
taking for her own the true God rather
fthan the false gods OF her home land,
she became the mother of David d father.
and 30, ancestress of @of great David'a
| greater son."
! Elijah the Tishbite burstslforth On the
page OF HISTORY without word OF intro
dnotion, but mighty with mon s.a.s, the
first, because he had plainly come rom
communion with God. Wnen not needed
to aet to rights the affairs Of the king
doms, he was hidden from men, but very
near to God. For years hunted by royal
spies. then boldly defying the king and
his court, overturning alone the estab-
lished religion. Away again to the
desert to see God and get strength to,
crush once more the ancient enemy OF
Israel In battle. Fed alternately by
angels and by ravens, calling fire from
heaven, and swept into heaven BY FIRE,
| always standing before the world as the
man who WAS acquainted with God, ard
as such, Gods yicegerent, whether to
| crown o king or to raise dead boy to
life; to destroy thousands ct word or
to bring rain upon the burning earth
These men who know God are the es-
jaentiaI part OF every nation. Had there
boon ten such men in Sodora, it kad re-
NAMED. Rome rotted for lack or 81
godly men. France cast out the Hupue-
nots. and has not yet recovered from the
loss. The days OF "!j5s were days of
terror because they had dethroned God.
] When France once more takes counsel OF
men who believe in God and honor
Gods day, she need have no fear OF the
imam OF blood and iron" whose hand is
iso heavy in Europe.
i England, happy nation, was rich
enough in men who patterned after God.
to drive out enough OF them to found
another England this side the seas, and
yet not lose her birthright. But she,
like every kingdom, must beware lest
4 naterialism blind her eyes. God is yet
In the heavens, and yet beholds the
! children OF men. Dynasties and parlia-
ments are entitled to 1--we, only 80 long
as they plan for the building OF Coda
kingdom. a single breath of God, and
navies sink, cities are swept away, coal
mines submerged, rivers choked, wealth
annihilated Gad men naked and ileipIess
. stand before God to begin once more
, learning the lesson set Tor them. Men
were told to subdue the earth, even while
they were yet holy and the earth yet
] undefiled by elm. But they are TO sub
J due it in Gods name and for his glory,
|, and not to their own selfish use. Ae-
J oumulating wealth is one OF the means
: by which this work is done, or rather an
! incidental result OF doing it. When it
, arrogates to itself the main place, and
becomes an end instead of means to
, better end, it works nothing but evil
> and must be displaced,
Il But not only in the great affaira Of
3 Eaen and kingdoms, LAS this principle of
/; living With God vital place, but in
8 those that we cali the smsn and trihipg.
, One need not stand in q prominent place
8 las men see it, to be very important
8 factor in the plans of God. His CLANS
0 60 on in his way, not ours. He sees the
q reality, the essential. IL may or it may
. not be something that we can see, but
0 but it does not depend upon our seeing
0 and appreoiating it, to be valuable and
{ enduring. So it is not arrogance or
presumption, to say that the prosperity
Q OF city or state, does not depend
0 primarily upon it's commercial facilities
Q nor upon the fertility OF the soil, bnt
i upon the attitude of city or state toward
u God. And this intnrn may be decided by
o the lives OF @ dozen or less OF plain men
l. and women, who own no bank stock or
1t town lots, who have very little to say in
], caucuses, but who are wholly devoted to
the idea Of living godly life, that 10,
'eI living like God. They know God and
l. be in turn knows them: For their sakes
!. he is thougnrfui for tie @elfare of tile
/; city, He honors and blesses their neipia
l. bcrs, because they honor him. We have
N often seen how wonderfully the fragrance
= Of one patient life exhales itself through
- not only the home, but the entire neigh.
ii borhood. A single gentle voice will
ot soon quiet mass OF angry turblent
1t children.
re An active God is the agency in these
ii happy transformations, how much more
le will he work where the issues are
le greater.
1t is then true now, that the uprisina
O. or the down fall OF town or state is in th,
,e hands Of Gods men. If they be true tc
ds their ggeat interests, and in dealing witt
r. each other and with the public, wall
,g with God, then for their sakes the cit
ISL. stands,
es Or looking at the other side OF the
i'd picture, If the city or the state be SO ia
is f0rgetful OF God as to say they do no
need him, if they even dare, as some
". times has been. to defy him If they trea
"a his day and his servants with contumsl,
or then it is only question Of time wheI
w the day Of doom shall come.
on No matter how eager they may lie Il
de build up, they have no foundation oI
ed which to abide, no matter how mucl